A CALL has been made to replace Cumbria's two new unitary councils with a single combined authority.

Party leader of Putting Cumbria First today (Thursday, January 25) called on leadership of Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council to seek a devolution deal for Cumbria.

Jonathan Davies was speaking at the joint executive committee of Cumbria’s two unitary councils at County Hall in Kendal this morning.

He called for both council leaderships to halt the “expensive and time-consuming process” of disaggregation of council services that is creating what he claimed was 'costly duplication' of roles services in both councils that are currently, and have been for years, delivered as one across Cumbria.

In April last year, the former Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland councils merged to form Cumberland Council and the former Eden, South Lakes and Barrow-in-Furness merged to form Westmorland and Furness Council with the former Cumbria County Council being split between the two.

Mr Davies called for the two councils to agree to look at the potential of creating a combined authority for Cumbria and build on the cooperation established by the joint executive committee already as a foundation for a combined authority for Cumbria, and the potential of a devolution deal for Cumbria.

Mr Davies said the creation of the two new councils took up valuable time and finances and, in many cases, created duplication of services and roles across both councils.

He added: "The joint executive committee, in its meeting in November, resolved that the committee is the best governance structure to take on responsibility for the transition of LEP functions to the two authorities to continue on a Cumbria geographical footprint and the delivery of those functions across Cumbria."

Mr Davies said he fully agreed with the move by the joint executive committee to commit to delivery of economic and growth services on the geographical footprint of Cumbria.

He added: "I believe that this shows a way forward to help both councils address the mess of created by the local government reorganisation landed on Cumbria.

"Rather than continuing with disaggregation of wider services with the costs and duplication this creates at a time both councils face financial difficulties like many other councils across the UK.

"Would the joint executive look to consider the potential for the residents and communities across Cumbria served by Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council of the creation of a combined authority to deliver services and combined resources from highways to schools and social care across Cumbria?

"And along with the opportunity this could provide for a devolution deal for Cumbria with or without the requirement for a Mayor as the recent devolution deal for Lancaster has shown with a deal without the need for a mayor something that has historically been a sticking issue for such a deal in Cumbria."

Speaking on behalf of both councils, councillor Jonathan Brook (Kendal South, Lib Dems), the leader of Westmorland and Furness Council, said: "From April, government will support local authorities to deliver the core functions currently delivered by LEPs.

"Government expects local authorities to work together to deliver these strategic economic functions within whole county geographies or functional economic areas with a minimum population of 500,000.

"These functions will be exercised by one of the local authorities (working in collaboration with others), where they are not already delivered by a combined authority, or in areas where a devolution deal is not yet agreed.

"Following the Government guidance, Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council will work together across the functional economic area of Cumbria to carry out strategic economic planning, in partnership with local leaders to clearly articulate the area’s economic priorities and sectoral strengths.

"Together with partners we will create an Economic Growth Board made up of local business leaders and relevant representative bodies and create a broad economic strategy for the area.

"We will ensure the seamless transition of Growth Hub and Careers Hub provision across Cumbria and delivery of existing funded Cumbria-wide programmes.

"In respect of devolution, we have been clear that we needed to conclude local government reorganisation before considering devolution.

"We are still in the process of disaggregating and integrating functions and services from the legacy authorities and shaping the two new unitary councils.

"However, we have maintained an open door with Government and we are open to dialogue on how we can unlock new powers, opportunities and funding for our residents, our communities and our businesses.

"The current Government has made it clear that any area wanting access to level three powers and funding must have a directly elected leader. We now need to understand what the forthcoming general election means for devolution of powers and funding for Local Government."